Sam Collett will stick with Kamanda Lincoln on Saturday. PHOTO: Race Images.
Kamanda Lincoln scrapes into Wellington Cup
By Barry Lichter • 13 January 2019
Kamanda Lincoln has scraped into Saturday’s Wellington Cup as the 18th and final qualifier and is primed to run better than his $61 odds would suggest.
Trainer Lisa Latta was very happy with the way the horse performed yesterday in the Trentham Stakes when fourth to Consensus despite being badly off at the set weights over only 2100 metres, a distance well short of his best.
On Saturday he drops 2kg to just 53 kg and gets over 3200 metres for the first time, a trip Latta says will suit his never-say-die style.
“Realistically he was never a winning chance yesterday,’’ says Latta. “He didn’t get in well at the weights - he was giving a Group I winner (Consensus) 2kg - and it was too short for him.
“Sam (Collett) said he was held up a little turning in but he kept grinding away.
“And she’s staying with him for the cup which is great.’’
Kamanda Lincoln showed just how beneficial a good barrier draw is for him yesterday when from the inside gate he jumped out well and slotted straight into the box seat.
While outsprinted down the home stretch he kept giving to finish only one and a half lengths from runner-up Hank Moody who squeezed him up a little late.
More news in Gallops
Hawk will need the run but don’t poo-poo the form from the Castlepoint Beach races
Visor blinkers switch on Lincoln King in hard-fought first hurdles win at Ballarat
Promising pair extend picket fence form lines but soon to go into winter quarters
Atta boy Billy, your timing to erase the recent pain was brilliant - and so was Opie’s
Our runners this week
Saturday at Wanganui
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Lisa’s comments
Thursday at Otaki
Race 7: Lincoln Falls
4.23pm
“I thought it was a great run at Otaki where he was beaten on the line coming off a one week back-up. He sets up a lot nicer here with 12 days between races. He came through that last run really well and drops down to 53kg. Ace Lawson-Carroll should be able to get into a nice position from the six draw and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him right in the finish again.”